Saturday, January 14, 2017

H1N1 Scare Sri Lanka and India

In a recent article published by Sri Lanka Guardian on January 12th, 2017, four patients receiving kidney treatment at Kandy General Hospital died of nosocomial H1N1 infections. Three other patients receiving treatment at the hospital had also died of H1N1 infections; therefore, Dr. Ratnakyake, a physician at Kandy General Hospital, has stated that additional precautionary measures will take place in order to prevent future H1N1 nosocomial infections. One precautionary measure that was taken was bringing in Dr. Jude Jayamaha and Dr. N.Y. Samaraweera in order to educate and train all hospital and staff personnel regarding preventative and response measures for H1N1.

In a recent article published by the Times of India on January 13th, 2017, 25 patients were admitted to hospitals in Tiruvallur, a suburban city in Chennai, with influenza-like illnesses. 24 patients tested negative for H1N1; however, one child who tested positive for H1N1 is now receiving treatment at the Institute of Child Health in Egmore.

26 patients, all residents of a 16 hut residential district near a canal, are receiving treatment at Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital and the ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) for presentation of similar symptoms of viral pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infection; however, they have tested negative for H1N1 and other vector-borne illnesses including dengue. While all patients are currently stabled and being closely monitored, the diagnosis still remains a mystery.

As a preventative measure, public health officials have set up medical camps, and 57 health health inspectors have been going around the residential district door-to-door to any other patients presenting with similar symptoms.